DanceWorks Presents A SOLDIER'S TALE, Choreographed by Michael Greyeyes, 2/20-22

DanceWorks, Toronto's longest-running contemporary dance series now in its 37th season, proudly presents the world premiere of A Soldier's Tale, a powerful dance theatre work choreographed and directed by Signal Theatre Artistic Director Michael Greyeyes that probes the lives of soldiers over the span of fifty years. This exceptional full-length work runs Thursday, February 20 to Saturday, February 22 at Harbourfront Centre's Fleck Dance Theatre.

A Soldier's Tale examines the aftermath of war on the soldiers who wage it and their families who survive its consequences with them, from the end of the Second World War to our involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan in the 21st century. Says Greyeyes, "A Soldier's Tale examines the terrible realities of war, reminding us that warfare and the reasons we wage it are irrelevant to those on the front lines; war remains the same for each generation and the horrors of it do not lessen with time. The words from George Santayana's powerful Soliloquies in England and later Soliloquiesecho loudly in this context, 'Only the dead have seen the end of war.'"

Written by Tara Beagan, Co-founder and Director, with Andy Moro, of Article 11, with dramaturgy by Yvette Nolan, A Soldier's Tale features some of Canada's most renowned contemporary dance artists and actors including Keith Barker, Louis Laberge-Côté, Michael Caldwell, Ana Groppler, Kate Holden, Nancy Latoszewski, Jamie Maczko, Daniel McArthur, Tamara Podemski, PJ Prudat and Brendan Wyatt, with Eva and Lilia Greyeyes(who are 11 and 9 respectively). Greyeyes invited choreographer Yvonne Chartrand-Canada's foremost authority on the Métis dance culture-to collaborate and incorporate elements of Métis jigging in Act 1, which is set in the Saskatchewan prairie.

Signal Theatre, founded by Michael Greyeyes (Plains Cree), is inter-disciplinary and intercultural, creating work that reflects and privileges indigenous knowledges, as well as international creation methodologies that situate physical rigour and exploration as the centre of the work. Greyeyes began his professional career as a classical ballet dancer with The National Ballet of Canada and with the company of Eliot Feld in New York City. As an actor he has worked on stage and extensively in film and television for the last 18 years. DanceWorks presented from thine eyes, Signal Theatre's debut work in 2011. Greyeyes is an Associate Professor at York University, where he teaches devised theatre and movement for actors.

Tickets range from $18.75 -$37.25 and can be purchased at Harbourfront Centre Box Office: 416-973-4000 OR online at www.danceworks.ca.

Photo Credit: John Lauener

Pictured: Ana Groppler